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167th out of 260 books
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The Winter War
When the Soviet Union invades its tiny neighbor Finland in November 1939, Marko volunteers to help the war effort. Even though his leg was weakened by polio, he can ski well, and he becomes a messenger on the front line, skiing in white camouflage through the forests at night. The dark forest is terrifying, and so are the odds against the Finns: the Russians have 4 times a...more
Hardcover, 240 pages
Published
December 18th 2008
by Wendy Lamb Books
(first published 2008)
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The story is about Marko, a Finnish boy, who joins a Finnish army group as a messenger to fight against the USSR’s attempt to invade and take over the country of Finland in 1939. Interesting book, and especially interesting in its descriptions of how the Finns deal with very cold and snowy winters. Good explanation of Finland’s war with the Soviet Union in 1939. I’ve heard questions about why Finland sided with Germany for part of WWII; the explanation (though not detailed here since this book...more
Kim
rated it
Gr 5-9-In 1939 Finland, Marko serves proudly as a sky watcher, a junior member of the Civil Guard. On November 30, when Russian bombers attack his village, his best friend is killed, and his younger sister and brother must evacuate to Sweden. A chance encounter with a former teacher, now an army lieutenant, propels Marko, who still limps as a result of a bout with polio, to the front lines. His familiarity with the area around Savolahti and his orienteering skills make him an ideal clandestine m...more
So glad I grabbed this one to read. I knew nothing about Finland's brave fight against the Russians during WWII. This book gave me a new look at this war by providing a glimpse of the struggle to defend Finland against invasion, describing how the Finns used their homeland's environment to their advantage. Because it is based on facts, this makes a great read for those kids who love anything WWII. I could hand this book to easily a dozen readers tomorrow morning -- and they would love it.
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This is a good adventure, based upon an extraordinary war. 13-year-old Marko lives on the Finnish-Soviet border, the main battleground of the Winter War of 1939-40. The Finns were heavily outnumbered, but used their familiarity of the extreme conditions to hold off the Soviet attack.
Marko is a Finnish ski messenger. He witnesses some horrific battle scenes, as well as the paralyzing effect of the cold. This book does well to explain the technical problems a snowbound army must face.
...more
Marko is a Finnish ski messenger. He witnesses some horrific battle scenes, as well as the paralyzing effect of the cold. This book does well to explain the technical problems a snowbound army must face.
...more
This is a historical fiction book written for young adults. It tells the story of a young Finish boy, Marko, who volunteers to be a messenger during the Winter War with Russia even though he has been handicapped by polio and must wear a leg brace. The night missions, the bombardments that leave their ears ringing are terrifying as are the Finns odds against the Russians. For 105 days, through one of the coldest winters in history, Finland fought the Russian Army. The Finns were out numbered ...more
This book was on my list of best new books for young adults.
The book is historical fiction, covering the war which began when the USSR invaded Finland in 1939. The point of view is that of a young teenage Finnish boy. The Finns are severely outnumbered, both in numbers of troops and equipment. However, they have strong morale and are better prepared to endure the Finnish winter than the Soviet armies. The book is very well written. I'm not usually a fan of war novels, but this o...more
The book is historical fiction, covering the war which began when the USSR invaded Finland in 1939. The point of view is that of a young teenage Finnish boy. The Finns are severely outnumbered, both in numbers of troops and equipment. However, they have strong morale and are better prepared to endure the Finnish winter than the Soviet armies. The book is very well written. I'm not usually a fan of war novels, but this o...more
The Winter War is a historical fiction book about boy trying to help out his homeland during wartime. The main characters are Marko and Karl. The setting is Finland during the 1940 Winter War. Marko’s job is to alert the troops if the Soviets are coming. One day, Marko and his best friend, Johan, are keeping watch from a look out tower when they spot a Soviet airplane. They try to alert the Finnish troops and in the process Johan gets hit with one of the bombs and dies. Next, Lieutenant Juhola (...more
This young adult novel covers a part of WWII that I had not heard much about. The way Durbin writes about Finland's fight against Russia reminds me of fantasy epic novels in that it is a story that seems removed from today's society. The main character has to deal with polio, temperatures so cold they stop a wounded man from bleeding to death, and a semi-recent war that required men to be athletes, rather than just operate machinery.
Winter War is such an interesting story, and it ...more
Winter War is such an interesting story, and it ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Classified as young adult, I think mature J boys would enjoy this story of a 12 year old in 1930's Finland who becomes a messenger and all around handyboy on the front lines of Finland's winter war against Russia. The writing is so-so but the military action is exciting in this Newbury honor book.
The story of how Finland fought off Stalin's mighty Soviet army in the winter of 1939 without help from anybody else. Protagonist Marko has mostly recovered from polio, and tho his leg brace keeps him from excelling in most sports, he can ski very well. Wanting to serve his country, he volunteers as a messenger, skiing messages between batalions. Interesting story, but the didacticism detracts from it.
i hated this book! it was way to gory and gross, so i stopped reading it at the part where a kid got bombed and they found his hands covered in blood, stuck in his gloves on the handlebars of his bike (chapter three)!
This is an Hisorical Fiction book about the Winter War, the war between Finland and Russia in 1930-40. Michael's grandfather died one hour before the cease fire ended the war. His mother never met him. I read this as a preview for the kids to read to learn more about it. The book itself is a fine kids book---nothing too stellar if there is not a connection. It is pretty gruesome at times, but what war isn't, especially when fighting in sub-zero weather. It is such a great tale of heroics o...more
boy orientated; not bad but not great. The historical aspect was a nice change from the others I have been reading lately.
This book was not what I thought it was but I found it to be interesting from start to finish. It also has an “Afterword” about the The Winter War, which I also think is interesting
I think this would be a good idea for a CGI animated movie
I think this would be a good idea for a CGI animated movie
Young adult book about the Winter War in Finland. Good history from a balanced point of view with an interesting story.
Marko, who lives in Finland, joins the army to defend his country. He has a gimp leg from polio.
Historical Fiction
Historical Fiction
I liked it from the historical perspective but I believe it was written for a young adult.
Wow a book that actually portrayed an axis ally as human and the allies as Brutal!
Pretty close to the style I'd like to write...
I thought that this was one of William Durbin's better book he is a great writer and right now I am reading The Darkest Evening. He is a very compelling author and and I can't stop reading his books.
A little know piece of human history, war between Finland and Russia. Powerful story about defending ones country, characters could have had more depth and some "revelations" are a little hard to believe. Very violent.
This has been classed as YA, but I felt it skewed young even for a war story. Predictable, but not terrible.
Shane
marked it as to-read
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Kelsey
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